The NBA has found no evidence that Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer funneled money to Kawhi Leonard to circumvent salary cap rules, according to sources close to the league on August 17, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
The league's investigation began in September 2025 after allegations surfaced that Ballmer used no-show endorsement deals with Clippers sponsors, including the now-bankrupt green banking company Aspiration, to channel money to Leonard outside of salary cap restrictions. Aspiration's co-founder has pleaded guilty to $248 million in fraud related to the company, and the inquiry expanded to include other sponsors beyond Aspiration [1, 3, 4].
NBA spokesperson Mike Bass rejected ESPN’s report on the investigation, calling it full of "numerous and significant inaccuracies" and said the league will release complete results after the investigation concludes [1].
The focus of the probe centers on whether the Clippers violated league rules by arranging introductions between Leonard and team sponsors or if the team failed to supervise employees adequately. The Clippers issued a statement saying, "We introduced players, including Kawhi Leonard, to companies with which we had business relationships. Making introductions between players and team partners is both an ordinary practice by NBA teams and a common request of players and representatives. We did not negotiate or dictate the terms of Leonard’s endorsement deals" [1, 3, 4, 5].
Sources said the sum involved in the alleged endorsement deal between Leonard and Aspiration was approximately $28 million [1, 5].
The NBA presented initial findings to the Clippers in late July 2026, and negotiations over a resolution have been ongoing between both parties [2, 3, 5].
The investigation has lasted about 11 months, reflecting the league's thorough review of financial transactions and business relationships tied to the Clippers and Leonard [1, 2, 3]. The NBA has yet to release full details publicly as discussions remain active.
